Don’t think I’ve told you much about the job search. Well, right now there are two options on the horizon. One is with *the* major engineering software company, located in a suburb of Boston. The other is a teaching job with a Christian university in Arkansas. And since we’ll likely be moving, I think I’ll, for once, be forthright about our general location and let you all know we currently reside in Indiana. With family in Illinois and Missouri.
So. BOSTON?!
The Boston job has been contacting Josh regularly with over-the-phone interviews, which increased in formality, with the pentacle being the final phone interview on Monday. He had to answer technical questions in four different areas. It was a good thing we were gone (the kids and I) because he was at school studying 12 hours a day for this interview, even going in on the weekend.
The Arkansas job, on the other hand, isn’t even looking to fill there position until next August. Josh found out about it through an old professor he had as an undergrad. The fact that his professor saw the job opening and thought immediately of Josh is encouraging. And he doesn’t even need a PhD, just a masters, which is rare. And teaching at a Christian college has been Josh’s goal – the reason for his PhD.
But the Boston job would pay more (not sure how much, just assuming, since the other option is a position at a Christian school).
But houses in Boston cost like $350,000.
And, plus, it’s cold in Boston.
And you can say “y’all” in Arkasas. (Lifelong dream, y’all.)
So I think you can tell which way I’m leaning. Factor in that Josh’s little sister is currently looking at this particular college for her own education, and it gets even more compelling. Oh, and Josh’s brother even sent away for information for their graduate programs, we just found out! We could all be converging upon this university from three different states. We would simply overtake it. How fun.
And, Arkansas is only 9 1/2 hours from my mom, versus the 16 and a half from Boston. It’s 5 1/2 hours from Josh’s parents, as compared to almost 22 hours from Boston.
Are you convinced yet? I am.
All that to say, we’ll find out by next Monday if the Boston job wants to fly Josh out for a final, in-person interview.
If he gets the job, he’ll call the Arkansas job to tell them he has another offer to see if he can put any kind of rush on their decision-making process.
So that’s the plan.
Yay for Boston! My in-laws live near there, about an hour south. When we have kids we’ll have to deal with the being-far-away-from-grandparents thing. 🙁
Paul’s paternal grandparents live in California and his maternal grandparents in New England. So his parents compromised by living for 10 years in California, a year in Germany, and then (and still are) in New England. He doesn’t seem to think it’s weird that our kids will be so far away from their grandparents. I’m glad he doesn’t mind because I personally like Atlanta. 🙂
I like Boston a lot too. It’s cold there, but not anything you don’t see in Indiana. I love the falls and the beautiful trees. There are a lot of cool people there! And the accent just makes me happy. And all the history! There’s a lot to see and do out there. I’d be more likely to see you in Boston! At least yearly! I’ll probably never make it out to Arkansas, sorry! :-p
Wow. That’s tough. Which college in Arkansas are you looking at? My cousin is at Harding (my mom went there too).
When my husband flew to Boston last May (as I mentioned in another post), he was going to be trained in Engineering software for doing traffic studies. Hmm. Probably some connection there.
Family’s great, but if your kids were a wee bit older, I’d say go for Boston for sure. When I was growing up as a homeschooler we lived outside of Williamsburg, VA and all of the historical area around there. We had season passes to all of the museums and went whenever we wanted. I learned so much as a little kid (6-9, my brother was 3-6). Then when we moved from there to Washington DC, we got to take regular trips to the Smithsonian and all of the major historical landmarks around there. I would LOVE to teach my children American history and live right outside of Boston. How cool is that?
But, since your kids are little, it probably isn’t as cut and dry. I hope you have peace in whichever decision you make and that God makes it very clear where He wants you to go.
It’ll make it easier for Ashley to visit her friends :-). I’m less than 2 hours from Boston! Just north of Hartford.
Well, the upper east coast isn’t that bad, but Arkansas would be so much more fun.
Best wishes whatever happens! I haven’t been to either place. I hope that you find happiness in either location. AND yes, the distance is greater from Boston, but a flight will still be like 2 hours.
Keep us updated!
Well… I think being closer to grandparents is a good idea, however both Arkansas and Boston are too far from North Carolina.
I have never been to Arkansas, but I have been to Boston. and Although i don’t see you as the Boston type, I like New England a lot. I probably would get to see you more if you moved to Boston seeing as it’s only a few hours from my family in Maine. But However selfish I want to be about where you move… I’ll pray you hear God’s voice loud and clear as He guides you. he might have some other completely different option for you!!
Oh, two more thoughts: Boston would probably have more natural options for childbirth and living than the small town in Arkansas. but if you moved to Arkansas, I would like you to ask them why it’s not pronounced AR- Kansas. how do they get Ar can saw? or why isn’t Kansas pronounced Can-saw?
If you move out east, you’ll never be able to honestly sing it again… you know the song…
“… And I’ve never been to Boston in the fall!”
I’d vote for Arkansas too. To follow up Jes’ comment, did you know there is an official legal pronunciation?
As a young mom of three (and possibly more kids), your quality of life may be better in Arkansas. More “wide open space,” lower cost of housing, closer to grandparents and family, no traffic, lower cost of living, etc. I vote Arkansas!
As a Boston native I think it’s a wonderful place to grow up and live. It is cold in the winter but the sun is shining most of the time and the seasons are really wonderful. The saying is, “If you don’t like the weather wait a minute” since it always changes quickly. The only other places I have lived were Madison, WI (which I LOVED) and Seattle, WA (also very nice but we decided it was too far from home to settle there).
The cost of living is crazy. My husband and I own a two family which helps us live where we want to for less.
I am also planning a homebirth in Jan with an awesome midwife so if that is something you are looking for next time around you can definitely find that here.
Good luck with the decision.
Personally, my husband is a student as well, working hard to reach his goal of a degree. We’ve made a lot of sacrifices for this goal and I feel the majority has been on his part. So if a great job opportunity came along that paid well and could help him gain experience before he enters his final life goal, I would encourage it. I would miss the family, but it seems you already live a far piece from them so why fuss? God may have some great plans for you.
We live in RI, about an hour south of Boston. It is BEAUTIFUL here this time of year! Mass is a great state for giving birth. Lots of nice birth centers, and the state health insurance program is really good, according to friends who live there. You’d have to live FAR out of the city to get affordable housing, and the cost of living in general is really high up here. So the salary would have to be REALLY good. Boston is a cool city with lots of interesting cultural and historical things to do. Lots of fun things for kids too. And working in a big city could be really good experience for Josh.
I have my husband’s family here in RI, and my family is in MO and CO. It works out okay – we have to fly to visit, but we’re still able to see each other a couple times a year.
I have also lived in Siloam Springs, AR. (Are you looking at JBU? Lovely campus.) It is so beautiful there. My brothers and I loved playing out in the woods. You can get a LOT more house there for your dollar, and more land too. Although Christian college salaries are generally pretty lousy. And they don’t always make the best working environment.
Either way, I think you’ll find a lot of things to love about the place you end up!